3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 - Walnut Handicap, HK $750,000
Class 5 - Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:49.31 Standard Time: 1:50.30 Course/Class Record 1:48.69 Strapping Bauhinia
Winner: SUCCESS ALLSTARS (SAF 5yo g Silvano - Pay The Piper) jumped cleanly from barrier three and moved straight to the rail shortly after the start. He settled three-back on the fence for the duration of the race before shifting off the rail before rounding the home turn. The five-year-old had a clear path and exploded from the 150 metre mark to run down Well Dragon and score by a length.
Runner-Up: WELL DRAGON had to do a mountain of work from the outside barrier to settle on the outside of the leader in running. It was a huge run considering he stuck on while the leader faded rounding the home turn.
Run Of The Race: AMAZING AGILITY was strung-up four pairs back on the fence and had to circle the contenders in front of him heading into the straight. Let down powerfully when he balanced up, and is one to keep an eye on.
Disappointment: GOOD DAYS jumped as the $5 favourite and had the leaders back throughout the race, but didn't finish off as well as the others.
Comparison: One second inside standard time in a quickly run affair.
Market Mover: FOX CHEUNGER $31 into $15
Race 2 - Walnut Handicap, HK $750,000
Class 5 - Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:50.36 Standard Time: 1:50.30 Course/Class Record 1:48.69 Strapping Bauhinia
Winner: ENJOYABLE SUCCESS (IRE 7yo g Frankel - Drops) jumped a little slow and was shifted behind runners in the early stages to be fourth last, sitting one off the fence. It was a great ride by Alex Lai who kept calm as others were making moves around him down the back straight. He straightened up in the middle of the track and was powerful through the line to win by just over a length.
Runner-Up: JOY N FUN LEGEND jumped from the widest barrier and was restrained to last place shortly after jumping. He settled at the rear of the field and was the second-widest runner on straightening. A good return after having a month between runs.
Run Of The Race: EVEN KEEL sat outside the leader for the entire race and fought on strongly for fourth, whilst the leader finished in tenth.
Disappointment: HAPPY HOUR was in the market at $7.20 and had a smooth run in transit but failed to finish off.
Comparison: Almost right on standard time in an even race.
Market Mover: FAIRY FLOSS $9 into $4.20
Race 3 - Larch Handicap - HK $1,000,000
Class 4 - Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good To Firm
Time: 1:10.08 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class Record: 1:08.92 Amazing Star
Winner: SPONTANEOUS (AUS 5yo g Unencumbered - Dowager Princess) jumped swiftly from an outside barrier and was able to cross runners and sit outside the lead without working too hard. Had to dig deep when the second placegetter moved up along the rail but fought on strongly winning by a length and a quarter.
Runner-Up: COLONEL box seated right on the leaders back in transit and cut the corner to stick to the rail upon straightening. Hit the lead with about 200 metres to go but the winner was too strong.
Run Of The Race: OURGOLDENRULES was sitting third-last on the rail for the duration of the event. The gelding only got clear air at the 200 metre point and ran home strongly.
Disappointment: SHENRON was well backed and moved into the race like it was going to run past them all at the 400 metre mark but didn't offer much of a fight down the straight.
Comparison: Just outside standard time after they slowed mid-race, before sprinting home.
Market Mover: SHENRON $17 into $4.90
Race 4 - Larch Handicap - HK $1,000,000
Class 4 - Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Firm
Time 1:10.35 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class Record: 1:08.92 Amazing Star
Winner: SHOWINA (NZ 3yo g Showcasing - Pamina) jumped from the outside barrier and was pushed along early to take up the lead. Even after working hard to cross to the lead, he was able to kick away at the top of the straight and record a victory by three-quarters of a length.
Runner-Up: HARRIER JET was a great run after over-racing early and being three-wide for the entire journey. He sprinted well once into the straight and was cutting into the leaders margin all the way to the line.
Run Of The Race: HARRIER JET should go close to winning next start if he can settle in a better position.
Disappointment: INNO LEGEND has his excuses coming out of this race but only went to the line fairly once getting some clean air.
Comparison: just inside standard time, in a quickly run race.
Market Mover: SHOWINA $26 into $13
Race 5 - Spruce Handicap - HK $1,000,000
Class 4 - Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.86 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class Record 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Winner: CHEERFUL DAYS (AUS 4yo g Smart Missile - Saint Minerva) jumped well and was able to find a great position three-pairs back, sitting one off the fence. It was a well-judged ride by Joao Moreira as he let the leaders bowl along, before putting his mount into the race at the 500 metre point. The four-year-old dug deep to fend off challengers left and right to win by a short-head on the line.
Runner-Up: REGENCY MASTER has plenty of excuses coming out of this race and still almost got the victory. The gelding had to be checked off heels at the 350 metre point but once he got clear air he flew home for second.
Run Of The Race: REGENCY MASTER should be close to a win next start with an easier run into the straight.
Disappointment: WINNING STEED was in the market at $8.50 and was in a great position stalking the leaders. But he was off the bridle a long way from home and ended up finishing a distant last.
Comparison: Just under standard time with the leaders running along and the swoopers sprinting well in the straight.
Market Mover: FREE FOAL $31 into $7.90
Race 6 - Cypress Handicap - HK$ 1,500,000
Class 3 - Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:10.11 Standard Time: 1:09.65 Course/Class Record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Winner: STOCK LEGEND (AUS 4yo g Sidestep - Adjourn) was put into a great position by Joao Moreira in transit, sitting in the one-out-one-back position. He made his move heading into the home turn and fought on bravely down the straight to win by a neck.
Runner-Up: EQUALETTA BLITZ was huge in defeat. He led the way for the majority of the race and gave 3.5Kg to the eventual winner. A gallant run in defeat.
Run Of The Race: TRANSCENDENT produced an eye-catching finish from the back of the field. The gelding exploded at the 200 metre point and Matt Chadwick had to manoeuvre him from the middle of the track back to the rail, finishing third by only half a length.
Disappointment: ISLAND SHINE was the $3.8 second favourite coming into the event. He was on the back of the eventual winner upon straightening but lacked dash at the top of the straight.
Comparison: A touch outside standard time with the event run at an even tempo.
Market Mover: ISLAND SHINE $10 into $3.80
Race 7 - Cypress Handicap - HK $1,500,000
Class 3 - Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.60 Standard Time: 1:09.65 Course/Class Record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Winner: YOUNG LEGEND (GB 7yo g Exceed And Excel - Ivory Gala) was positioned perfectly behind the leaders in transit. The seven-year-old was under the whip from the 400m mark but grinded his way down the straight to win by a neck. It was a great effort considering he was lugging a whopping 5.5Kg more than the runner-up.
Runner-Up: MCLUCKY was ever so close. A great front running ride by Jerry Chau as he pinched a gap on the rest of the field heading for home.
Run Of The Race: MCLUCKY was a well-judged ride by Jerry Chau and he was unlucky to run into one better than him on the night. He and the winner gapped the rest of the field, so stick with him going forward.
Disappointment: SHOUSON drifted slightly in betting but was inclined to finish off better than he did, having been placed in behind the first and second placegetters in transit and upon straightening. Eventually weakening out to finish tenth.
Comparison: Just under standard time in a quickly run race.
Market Mover: KAI XIN DRAGON $21 into $8.40
Race 8 - Fountain Palm Handicap - HK $1,500,00
Class 3 - Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.42 Standard Time: 1:39.80 Course/Class Record: 1:38.61 Solar Wai Wai
Winner: GIFT OF LIFELINE (AUS 5yo g Pierro - Princess Quality) was enormous in this race. The gelding was third-last on the fence before Karis Teetan hugged the rail turning into the straight. The son of Pierro produced an explosive turn of foot to mow down the leader which had kicked away, and score by two and three-quarter lengths on the line.
Runner-Up: SMOOTHIES was gallant in defeat. He was positioned midfield in the running and may have been left a bit flat-footed when the sprint went on. But he ran home strongly down the centre of the track to grab second.
Run Of The Race: GIFT OF LIFELINE was a class above in this race. A great prospect to follow going forward.
Disappointment: SURREALISM is unlucky to find himself in the disappointments section, but he was inclined to offer more in the straight. He was tracking the leaders the entire trip but was only plain when straightening.
Comparison: Just inside standard time on an evenly run race.
Market Mover: SMILING CITY $21 into $8.60
Race 9 - Cedar Handicap - HK $2,200,000
Class 2 - Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:49.42 Standard Time: 1:48.70 Course/Class Record: 1:47.61 Time Warp
Winner: CHARITY FUN (IRE 4yo g War Command - Patruca) bought up a treble for Zac Purton as his smart ride saw the gelding win by three-quarters of a length on the line. The four-year-old started to over-race as the pace slackened during the middle stages of the event, with Purton moving on to the back of a runner who had made a move from the rear of the field. He was caught five-wide on the turn but ran home well down the centre of the track to claim victory.
Runner-Up: SAVAQUIN was almost in last place at the 400 metre point before shifting wide on the home turn. After bumping into another runner at the 250 metre mark, he showed a great turn of foot to flash home and narrowly grab second position.
Run Of The Race: GREEN LUCK hit the line hard after being caught in behind runners for the majority of the straight. Would've gone closer to winning had he had clearer air earlier.
Disappointment: TSAR is very unlucky to find himself in the disappointment category here. Although he was wide on the turn he had plenty of time to get through his gears and attack the line, especially under the light weight.
Comparison: Outside standard time with a very slow mid-race sectional before sprinting home.
Market Mover: CHARITY FUN $3.30 into $2.20
